Frank Frankfort Moore

"A Nest of Linnets", a book by Frank Frankfort Moore, Sparkling historical romance set in Bath in the second half of the 18th century. This book is loosely based on the elopement of the playwright Richard Sheridan and the beautiful but sensitive singer Elizabeth Linley, who was the subject of some of Gainsborough's most famous portraits. Did reality jeopardize a good romance? To what end?

A Nest of Linnets

Example in this ebook CHAPTER I “This will never do, Betsy,” said Mr. Linley, shaking his head. “Sir Joshua calls you Saint Cecilia, but ’twere a misnomer if you do not sing the phrase better than you have just sung it. ‘She drew an angel down’: let that be in your mind, my dear. There is no celestial being that would move a pinion to help a maiden who implored its aid in so half-hearted a way. Let us try again. One, two, three——” “‘Angels, ever bright and fair,’” sang Miss Linley. Her father sprang from the harpsichord. “Gracious powers, madam! the angels are not in the next room—they are not even in Pierrepont Street, take my word for it; they are in heaven, and heaven, let me tell you, is a very long way from Bath!” he cried. “Give forth the ‘Angels’ as if you meant to storm the ears of heaven with your cry. Think of it, girl—think that you are lost, eternally lost, unless you can obtain help that is not of earth. Stun their ears, madam, with the suddenness of your imploration, and let the voice come from your heart. Betsy, that smile is not in the music. If Maestro Handel had meant a smile to illuminate the part, take my word for it he would have signified it by a bar of demi-semi-quavers, followed by semi-quavers and quavers. Good heavens, madam! do you hope to improve upon Handel?” “Ah, father, do not ask too much of me to-night; I am tired—anxious. Why, only last week a highwayman——” Miss Linley glanced, eagerly listening, toward the window, as if she fully expected to see the mask of a highwayman peering between the blinds. “Betsy, I am ashamed of you!” said her father. “What stuff is this? Is there any highwayman fool enough to collect fiddles? Do you fancy that a boy with a fiddle tucked under his arm is in any peril of a bullet?” “But they may affright the child.” “Child? Child? Who is the child? What! Do you think that because you have not seen your brother since he was fourteen, the four years that have passed can have made no impression on him?” “I suppose he will have grown.” “You may be sure that he will be able to defend himself without drawing either his sword or his fiddle. To your singing, Betsy. Go back to the recitative.” “It would be a terrible thing to find that he had outgrown his affection for us. I have heard that in Italy——” “Still harping on my daughter’s brother! Come, Miss Linnet, you shall have your chance. You shall fancy that your prayer is uttered on behalf of your brother. ‘Angels, ever bright and fair, Take, oh, take him to your care.’ Now shall the angels hear for certain. Come, child; one, two——” “‘Angels——’” sang Miss Linley. “Brava!” cried her father sotto voce, as the sound thrilled through the room and there was a suggestion of an answering vibration from the voice of the harpsichord. “‘Angels, ever bright and fair, Take, oh, take me——’” The harpsichord jingled alone. The girl’s voice failed. She threw herself into a chair, and, covering her face with her hands, burst into a passion of sobbing. “Oh, if he does not arrive after all—if some accident has happened—if—if——” The apprehensions which she was too much overcome to name were emphasised in the glance that she cast at her father. Her eyes, the most marvellous wells of deep tenderness that ever woman possessed, at all times suggested a certain pathetic emotion of fear, causing every man who looked into their depths to seek to be her protector from the danger they seemed to foresee; but at this moment they appeared to look straight into the face of disaster. To be continue in this ebook

A Nest of Linnets (Illustrations)

A Tale of New Guinea

The Fate of the 'black Swan'

'A Journalist's Note-Book' is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Frank Frankfort Moore. He wrote about his experiences while working at the local, conservative and unionist paper, The News Letter. Although he was described by his colleagues as "a compulsive writer - never revising - with an uncannily acute and retentive memory"; a similar complimentary regard is not held by Moore, who wrote this book as a scathing denouncement of his past co-workers antics while working in The News Letter.

A Journalist's Note-Book

Moore

The Story of a Comedy which was Played Seriously : in Two Volumes

"I Forbid the Banns"

One Fair Daughter, Her Story

I forbid the banns

The Story of a Comedy which was Played Seriously

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "A Garden of Peace: A Medley in Quietude" by Frank Frankfort Moore. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

A Garden of Peace: A Medley in Quietude

& Others

The Impudent Comedian

Tre, Pol, and Pen

The Artful Miss Dill

A Novel

Nell Gwynn - Comedian

The Love that Prevailed

Tales of the Coast

Told by the Sea

Reproduction of the original: A Garden of Peace by Frank Frankfort Moore

A Garden of Peace

Reproduction of the original: A Gray Eye or So in Three Volumes—Volume III by Frank Frankfort Moore

Volume 3

A Gray Eye or So in Three Volumes—Volume III

Reproduction of the original: A Gray Eye or So, Complete in Three Volumes—Volume I, II and III: Complete by Frank Frankfort Moore

A Gray Eye or So, Complete in Three Volumes—Volume I, II and III: Complete

Phyllis of Philistia

A Damsel Or Two

Frank Frankfort Moore

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